Trans Nzoia aspirants fall prey to fraudsters, ODM official says

ODM officials in Trans Nzoia have raised a red flag over the existence of cartels who are allegedly fleecing aspirants their money while purporting to be officials of the party’s national election board.

The region’s ODM Secretary John Simiyu said the cartels have formed a syndicate which is extorting money from the aspirants on the pretext that they will influence the party’s nominations in their favour.

“We have been alarmed by the increase in complaints from several aspirants who have been conned off their money by the cartels who include some of the party officials,” Mr Simiyu told journalists in Kitale Town.

He called on the party’s national election board to put in place structures at the county level to ensure rogue officials don’t take advantage of the current scenario to rake in money from unsuspecting aspirants.

“The ODM national election board must move with speed to contain this mess which may end up tainting the image of the party since some of the fraudsters are officials,” said Mr. Simiyu.

The region’s ODM youth leader Wilson Okalo said the party’s top brass must also execute measures against any party official who will be found culpable of the vice to ensure its (ODM’s) ideals are not eroded.

“It’s only appropriate that any official who is part of this con game is not only named and shamed but is also stripped off any leadership role since this goes against the ideals of the party,” said Mr Okalo.